Title - Duronto to be converted into superfast train

Jalandhar : The country’s first day Duronto Express is all set to go off the rails this September, as authorities have decided to convert the Express into a super fast train that will run between Chandigarh and Amritsar with two stops: at Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Divisional Regional Manager (DRM) of the Ferozepur Northern Railway, Naresh Goyal on Sunday said the Amritsar-Chandigarh Day Duronto will be called the Chandigarh-Amritsar Superfast train from September 11 with halts at Jalandhar and Ludhaina.

The Duronto Express, which was flagged off amidst much fanfare from Amritsar on August 24 last year, has been plagued by a poor response. With the Express not stopping at any station, it failed to attract enough passengers. Duronto trains are destination-to-destination trains and only have technical halts.

Moreover, residents of both Jalandhar and Ludhiana, particularly government employees who have to commute to Chandigarh every day, had been demanding that the train stop at both the places.

The authorities finally gave the nod to introduce the two stoppages at Jalandhar and Ludhiana in an apparent attempt to make the train a more viable proposition. Duranto trains are destination to destination trains and have no stoppage in-between except some technical halts.